The India vs Japan T20 International is the first ever men’s T20I between the two nations. It is played on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi, Japan, under the Suzuki Cup. India are the reigning T20 World Cup champions; Japan are ranked 41st in the world. For a wider view of how international fixtures and tournaments fit together, see our guide to cricket competitions.
India vs Japan T20I: What You Need to Know
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Japan vs India, one-off T20I (Suzuki Cup) |
| Date | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 |
| Time | 9:30 AM IST, 1:00 PM Japan local time |
| Venue | Sano International Cricket Ground, Tochigi, Japan |
| First time | First senior men’s T20I between India and Japan |
| India captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Japan captain | Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming |
| India ranking | No. 1 in T20Is |
| Japan ranking | No. 41 in T20Is |
What Is the Suzuki Cup?
The Suzuki Cup is the trophy for this match. The Japan Cricket Association and the Board of Control for Cricket in India created the fixture to open the celebrations for 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations. The match also launches “Sport 75,” a sports cooperation plan that grew out of a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In BCCI’s announcement, the board called the match a significant moment for cricket because it takes the Indian team into new territory and brings the sport to a wider audience in Japan and East Asia.
What Time Is the Match in the United States and Other Countries?
The match starts at 1:00 PM local time in Japan. Here is that time in other regions.
| Location | Start time on Tuesday, September 22 |
|---|---|
| Japan | 1:00 PM |
| India | 9:30 AM |
| Pakistan | 9:00 AM |
| United Kingdom | 5:00 AM |
| US East Coast | 12:00 AM |
| US West Coast | 9:00 PM (Monday, September 21) |
How to Watch the India vs Japan T20I Live
You can watch or follow this match live from several places, depending on where you are. Here are the confirmed options.
| Region | Where to watch or follow |
|---|---|
| India | TV: Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi. Streaming: FanCode app and website. |
| Japan | Tochigi TV, free-to-air. |
| USA and Canada | Willow TV is listing this match for viewers in the USA and Canada. |
| Live score (anywhere) | CricTracker live score page and the ABC score centre. |
If you miss the live telecast, official video highlights of the match are expected on FanCode and other rights holders after the match finishes.
Why This Match Matters
This is the first senior international cricket match between India and Japan’s men’s teams. India are the defending T20 World Cup champions and the No. 1 ranked T20I team. Japan are ranked 41st, and most of their players balance cricket with study or work.
Japan’s captain, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, is the country’s all-time leading T20I run scorer, with 1,871 runs in 55 matches. The match is Japan’s biggest international fixture and is meant to grow cricket in a country where baseball leads.
Players to Watch in This Match
India’s Abhishek Sharma is in the form of his life. In the third T20I against Afghanistan on September 17, he hit 108 runs off just 34 balls, the fastest T20I century by an Indian, with 11 sixes. He is the biggest batting threat on either side.
Sanju Samson is another in-form India batter. He scored 50 off 35 balls in that same third T20I and gives India a fast start at the top. Jasprit Bumrah returns to the attack after his injury layoff and will test Japan’s top order with his yorkers.
For Japan, captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming is the key man with the bat. Leg-spinner Makoto Taniyama leads Japan’s bowling attack, and young spinner Jake Kusuda-Nairn earned his place with strong domestic form.
India’s win over Afghanistan by 127 runs on September 17 shows how quickly this batting order can end a contest. For the mechanics of scoring and dismissals, see our beginner guide to how cricket matches work.
India Team News
Shreyas Iyer leads India. The squad includes Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Yash Thakur, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Vipraj Nigam.
India arrive after a 3-0 T20I series win over Afghanistan at home. Jasprit Bumrah returns to build rhythm ahead of the Asian Games following an injury layoff. Varun Chakaravarthy is out with a side strain, and Vipraj Nigam replaced him in the squad. For a refresher on how a T20 works, see our beginner guide to how cricket matches work.
Japan Team News
Japan named a 15-man squad, led by Kadowaki-Fleming, that is the same group they will use at the Asian Games. Players eligible for T20Is but not for the Asian Games were left out, so the squad is built around locally qualified players.
Two other players, Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb, join the captain as the only ones with more than 50 T20I caps. Leg-spinner Makoto Taniyama is Japan’s leading wicket-taker, and young spinner Jake Kusuda-Nairn won his place with strong domestic shows.
Weather and Rain Risk
The build-up was wet. Typhoon Dujuan brought heavy rain on Monday and India’s practice session was cancelled. Japan’s earlier T20I against Hong Kong on September 20 was abandoned without a ball bowled.
The match-day forecast is more hopeful: overcast skies with a 25 to 35 percent chance of rain. If overs are lost, the DLS method will set a revised target. There is no reserve day, so a fully washed-out match would be abandoned.
Frequently asked questions
When is the India vs Japan T20I?
The match is on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM Japan local time, which is 9:30 AM IST.
Where is the India vs Japan T20I being played?
At Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi, Japan, about 100 kilometers from Tokyo.
Is this the first time India and Japan play cricket against each other?
Yes. This is the first senior men’s T20I between the two countries.
Who is captaining each team?
Shreyas Iyer captains India. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming captains Japan.
What is the Suzuki Cup?
The Suzuki Cup is the trophy for this one-off match. It marks 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations and launches the Sport 75 sports initiative.
Conclusion
India and Japan meet for the first time in men’s T20I cricket on September 22 in Sano. India are the clear favorites as world champions, but for Japan the match is about growth as much as result. Rain could interfere, so check the forecast before kickoff. However the day ends, it is a historic first for cricket in Japan.
Read More: What Are Cricket Competitions? Full Beginner Guide
